Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by state of hockey

I'd do that. Have UAA host.

Originally Posted by mookie1995

ugh. why would you want to stay at home? i really don't want boston to EVER have one again. i have stated many times i treat this like a convention. this was a great convention. got to golf. casual, comfortable shorts with no coat (left mine in the car at logan ). great variety of spas in the area too. enjoyed five great showers and rubs. i was so clean coming back - felt wonderful.

That was pretty much a tongue-in-cheek comment, although Seattle does have the facilities available. Key Arena would work but isn't nearly as nice as the X, Pepsi Center, Times Forum, etc. Parking would be challenging and expensive. There are probably a lot of bars nearby, and many things to do around the games. I really liked the Tampa FF, and had a great time playing in the ocean and at Busch Gardens. It didn't hurt that I had friends to stay with.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by D3 Phan

Count me as one who stayed away due to the distance to Tampa. I've been to seven FF's, After seeing sell out's become routine, it appears some other fans
did the same. Bring it back to Milwaukee, St Louis, Columbus, Denver, and give Omaha a try. Why make everyone travel at least 1000 miles?

You're kidding, right? You complain about distance, and you want it in Denver? You're making Minnesota fans travel almost 1,000 miles if you have it there! Not to mention every fan east of Chicago (being liberal) 100% cannot drive there. No way they should go back to podunk towns like Omaha, Milwaukee, or Columbus, it's a snoozefest at best. This is the reiteration of the "they have bars and restaurants near the arena!" argument. Just no. Keep it in big time sports towns, at the very least with legitimate NHL teams.

Originally Posted by Osorojo

You don't suppose that the roads and traffic in Boston have any bearing upon its selection as a FF site? Driving in Boston might not keep first-time visitors away, but after the first time . . .

Not a chance. The advantage of Boston is you can come here and be 100% free from needing to use a car. The T is slow as balls but at least it gets you everywhere you need to go. No cab from the airport necessary, and you can easily drive to many hotels outside the downtown area and hop the train anywhere you need to go. What other recent FF city, aside from DC, has the infrastructure where you can fly/drive in and never once need to use your car to get to the games, sightsee, go out at night, and do whatever you want?

I was formerly a tasty 7-11 beverage. Now I'm a fan of defunct hockey teams.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by Handyman

If you think I didnt enjoy Columbus because the Gophers lost to UND then that is your prerogative. I mean you are wrong but you have the right to be wrong. I thought the town was lame, the atmosphere was bunk and just the whole set up was pretty blah. I would have felt the same way had the Gophers won it all.

The right to be wrong? I'll waive the right. If I missed my guess, so be it.

As for the rest, I'm sorry Columbus didn't work out for you. But with just a little bit of legwork, there's a good four day weekend to be had at ANY of the past Frozen Four cities. In advance of the 2005 Tournament, an OSU Poster put up a detailed Visitors' Guide. There were suggestions for all ages and tastes. It made things very easy for anyone willing to give us a fair chance. Unfortunately, you can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by pgb-ohio

The right to be wrong? I'll waive the right. If I missed my guess, so be it.

As for the rest, I'm sorry Columbus didn't work out for you. But with just a little bit of legwork, there's a good four day weekend to be had at ANY of the past Frozen Four cities. In advance of the 2005 Tournament, an OSU Poster put up a detailed Visitors' Guide. There were suggestions for all ages and tastes. It made things very easy for anyone willing to give us a fair chance. Unfortunately, you can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Agree completely, FiveHole12. My only concern is that Frozen Fours continue to be held in a wide variety of locations, with the entire FF fanbase taken into account over the long run.

Don't know quite what to make of this conversation. Over the years, anyone suggesting non-traditional FF sites on USCHO took a lot of flak. Strange to see the pendulum swing so far in the other direction.

I think you've answered your own question. The people who didn't attend Tampa, because of cost, distance, or on principle didn't attend, and therefore aren't posting here.

Most of the people who went enjoyed it.

Seems to me what it says is that at least occasional "vacation destinations" work out, at least if it's reasonable cost wise and time wise. Anaheim was either before its time, or too far for too many people.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

How do ticket sales and profit compare between Tampa and past venues? Money talks . . .
An even more consequential number for the future of college hockey is a comparison between the FF income from the venue and income from the media, and who gets how much of this income. Will these numbers be publicized?

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by pgb-ohio

The right to be wrong? I'll waive the right. If I missed my guess, so be it.

As for the rest, I'm sorry Columbus didn't work out for you. But with just a little bit of legwork, there's a good four day weekend to be had at ANY of the past Frozen Four cities. In advance of the 2005 Tournament, an OSU Poster put up a detailed Visitors' Guide. There were suggestions for all ages and tastes. It made things very easy for anyone willing to give us a fair chance. Unfortunately, you can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink.

Thanks for the props, pgb-ohio, that visitor's guide was posted by me.

But you're spot-on that you are what you make of a visit anywhere. If you've got access to tripadvisor, urbanspoon, a travel guide, or heck, take a trip to a library and head to they're travel section, you oughta find something to do that you'll enjoy.

But I digress.

As for Tampa. We loved it. We (the alewife, her brother, their niece and I) turned it into a weeklong vacation. We rented a house on a bay, found some good local restaurants, took a brewery tour, blah blah blah. People were friendly and accommodating, some (not all) noticed our hockey apparel and made obvious comments like "are you here for the hockey tournament?" The weather was great. What's not to like?

Personally, I think every once in awhile the NC$$ should choose a "non-traditional" locale. It shakes things up a little. And, for those with a travel curiosity, it offers variety and exploration. Just as long as it's not held on a football field or baseball diamond.

The objections I have are petty. The beers outside the arena were mortgage-priced (so much so that even my brother-in-law wouldn't buy one ). There was the typical innocuous onscreen commentary during TV timeouts. But the biggest pet peeve I had was the coverage of the game on the jumbotron. Our seats (lower level, about seven rows up, to the right of the penalty box) demanded that play to our left be watched on the screen above. For some reason, the arena thought it would be a cool idea to edit the view every now and then to a different (read: worse) angle. Bonehead.

Still, all in all, I thought it was a great venue. We had a great time. We had no problems getting into (or out of) the arena. And being able to buy your souvenirs outside (and take them back to the car beforehand) was even better. Good job, Tampa!

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by Brewmaster

Thanks for the props, pgb-ohio, that visitor's guide was posted by me.

Sorry for the inadequate citation. Of course that was your work, and you did a great job.

The context was that our community stood accused of being inadequate hosts, and my point was that our community had reached out. In other words, my focus was at the aggregate level. But I definitely should have included your screen name. Credit where credit is due!

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Didn't read the whole thread, so I may be repeating others opinions. This was my 17th Frozen Four. Initially, I wasn't sure how Tampa would do as host, after being very unimpressed with previous non-traditionals like Anaheim - but it was fantastic. The weather was obviously a huge bonus, but what impressed me the most was that everywhere you went in the city - they knew the FF was there. It was a big deal. There were signs EVERYWHERE. The area around the rink was great, the atmosphere was great, there were tons of places to go, and our hotel was fantastic. I cannot imagine anyone was bored in Tampa, at any time - families or beverage enthusiasts. I'm hoping it returns soon.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

the girls were flabbergasted that i didn't want to buy sex off them. why is it so hard to believe i am happy with a shower and a massage.

if i liked sex, i wouldn't be married!!

So you're saying you don't like sex.

Originally Posted by jen

Didn't read the whole thread, so I may be repeating others opinions. This was my 17th Frozen Four. Initially, I wasn't sure how Tampa would do as host, after being very unimpressed with previous non-traditionals like Anaheim - but it was fantastic. The weather was obviously a huge bonus, but what impressed me the most was that everywhere you went in the city - they knew the FF was there. It was a big deal. There were signs EVERYWHERE. The area around the rink was great, the atmosphere was great, there were tons of places to go, and our hotel was fantastic. I cannot imagine anyone was bored in Tampa, at any time - families or beverage enthusiasts. I'm hoping it returns soon.

Re: Evaluating Frozen Four host Tampa Bay

Originally Posted by Onion Man

That would be more than fine with me. Make the FF like a football Bowl game and have it where the fans can be rewarded for driving in the snow and cold to games every night. Replace Anaheim with New Orleans and you got a deal.

+1

If the NC$$ becomes convinced that it can make more $$$ by promoting the FF as another version of a football bowl game, it will happen. If not, back to Columbus-Milwaukee-Boston-Denver-Philly-Pitts and points north.